Opening mechanism for a box

ABSTRACT

A box includes an outer part having a body, a cover pivotably connected to the body, and a space defined between the body and the cover. The inner part includes an operation portion which protrudes from outside of the inner part. An opening mechanism is configured between the outer part and the inner part. By applying a force to the opening mechanism, the inner part is raised so as to push the cover away from the outer part.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an opening mechanism for a box, and more particularly, to an opening mechanism which opens the cover from the body of the box easily.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The conventional cosmetic box generally includes a body and a cover which is mounted to the open top of the body. The cover is secured to the body of the box by a snapping unit. When opening the cover of the body of the box, the user has to use both of his/her hands to open the cover to unlock the snapping unit. However, the conventional way may damage the box or the hands.

Taiwan Utility Model No. M278277 discloses a cosmetic box with a top part, a mediate part and a bottom part, and an opening mechanism is located at the mediate part having an integral button unit. The button unit has a press portion and a push portion. When the user presses the press potion, the push portion pushes the first link on the top part to yield the first link from the second link which is connected with the bottom part. Therefore, the top part is opened relative to the bottom part. The button unit is integral with the medial part so as to save the assembling processes to reduce the manufacturing cost.

However, the cosmetic box has a complicated configuration, and the button unit is not reliable and requires maintenance.

The present invention intends to provide an opening mechanism for a box and improves the shortcomings of the conventional one.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a box and comprises an outer part having a body and a cover is pivotably connected to the body. The body has a space defined therein. An inner part is located in the space and has an operation portion which protrudes from outside of the inner part. An opening mechanism is connected to the outer part and the inner part. The opening mechanism has an opening defined in the body and the opening communicates with the space. The cover is mountable to the opening of the body. Two slots are respectively defined in two opposite sides of the body. Two insides of the space each have a guiding surface extending therefrom. The inner part has two notches defined in two outsides thereof and the two guiding surfaces are engaged with the two notches. The inner part has two protrusions which are movably engaged with the two slots. The operation portion contacts the cover of the outer part.

Preferably, the operation portion has an operation face which is in flush with outer surface of the outer part.

Preferably, the guiding surfaces each have an inclined surface which extends toward the opening. The slots each are an inclined elongate slot which extends toward the opening.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an opening mechanism which opens the cover from the body of the box easily simply by applying a push force to the operation portion.

The second object of the present invention is to provide an opening mechanism which is easily manufactured at lower cost.

The third object of the present invention is to provide an opening mechanism which allows the users to open the cover easily.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show the box of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the box of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is another cross sectional view of the box of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows the user applies a force to the operation portion of the box of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows that the cover is to be opened from the outer part of the box of the present invention, and

FIG. 6 shows that the cover is fully opened from the outer part of the box of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the box of the present invention comprises an outer part 1 and an inner part 2.

The outer part 1 comprises a body 11 and a cover 12 which is pivotably connected to the body 11. A space 111 is formed between the body 11 and the cover 12 (as shown in FIG. 2). Two slots 113 are respectively defined in two opposite sides of the body 11. Two opposite sides of the space 111 each have a guiding surface 114 extending therefrom. Namely, the guiding surfaces 114 are extended from the outer part 1 to the space 111. Preferably, the guiding surfaces 114 are arranged on two opposite inner sides of the body 111. The slots 113 and the guiding surfaces 114 are inclined to a horizontal plane.

The inner part 2 can be accommodated within the space 111 and has an operation portion 21 which outward protrudes from the inner part 2. Wherein, outer surfaces of the body 11, cover 12 and operation portion 21 are flush with each other. The inner part 2 further has two notches 22 defined in two opposite positions thereof so as to correspondingly and slidably engage with the two guiding surfaces 114. Preferably, the two notches 22 are arranged on two opposite outsides of the inner part 2. The inner part 2 has two protrusions 23 which are movably engaged with the two slots 113. When the cover 12 is closed, the operation portion 21 contacts the cover 12 of the outer part 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, when in use, the user applies a horizontal push force to press the operation portion 21 of the inner part 2, the inner part 2 is moved in the space 111 of the outer part 1. As shown in FIG. 5, because the two guiding surfaces 114 are slidably engaged with the two notches 22, the notches 22 are moved upward along the inclined guiding surfaces 14. Simultaneously, the protrusions 23 of the inner part 2 are moved in the slots 113. The operation portion 21 contacts the cover 12, so that when the operation portion 21 is moved in the inner part 2, the operation portion 21 pushes the cover 12 to be opened. Therefore, the user can easily open the cover 12 as shown in FIG. 6.

The present invention provides an opening mechanism which opens the cover 12 from the body 11 of the box easily simply by applying a push force to the operation portion 21. The opening mechanism is configured between the outer part 1 and the inner part 2 and comprises the slots 113 of the body 11, the space 111, the guiding surfaces 114, the notches 22 of the inner part 2 and the protrusions 23. By the opening mechanism, the inner part 2 moves upward by the guidance of the slots 113 and the guiding surfaces 114 so that the cover 12 can be easily opened.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, each of the slots 113 is an inclined slot, a curved slot, a waved slot or a combination thereof so as to generate a force for opening the cover 12 when the operation portion 21 is pushed, Each of the guiding surfaces 114 is an inclined surface, a curved surface, a waved surface or a combination thereof so as to generate a force for opening the cover 12 when the operation portion 21 is pushed. The number of the notches 22 is single, and the number of the guiding surfaces 114 is single or multiple. 

1. A box comprising: an outer part having a body, a cover which is pivotably connected to the body, and a space defined between the body and the cover; an inner part located in the space and having an operation portion which protrudes from outside of the inner part, and an opening mechanism configured between the outer part and the inner part, comprising at least two slots respectively defined in two opposite sides of an inner surface of the body, at least one guiding surface extending from the outer part to the space, at least one notch defined in outside of the inner part, at least two protrusions configured on an outer surface of the inner part, wherein the notch is slidably engaged with the guiding surface, the protrusions are movably engaged with the slots.
 2. The box as claimed in claim 1, wherein outer surfaces of the body, the cover and the operation portion are flush with each other.
 3. The box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slot is an inclined slot, a curved slot, a waved slot or the combination thereof, and the guiding surface is an inclined surface, a curved surface, a waved surface or the combination thereof.
 4. The box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the notch and the guiding surface have the same shape.
 5. The box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slots extend upwardly and rearwardly at an angle.
 6. The box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protrusions movably engage the slots to provide an upward movement for the inner part. 